Exploring Food Insecurity among Individuals with Serious Mental Illness: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are likely highly vulnerable to food insecurity, yet this issue remains unexplored within this population. METHODS: A mixed method approach to assess the prevalence and underlying factors was conducted. Food security status was assessed within a convenience sample of 72 community-dwelling individuals with SMI. Semi-structured interviews (n=28) and focus groups (n=4) were subsequently conducted. RESULTS: Within the sample, 45.8% were classified as food insecure, with 29.2% identified as very low food secure. While classic food insecurity barriers (e.g. lack of transportation, fixed income, inadequate resources, etc) were identified, these factors were further compounded by symptoms associated with mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to national data, this SMI sample was nearly 8 times more likely to report food insecurity. Information discovered during interviews and focus groups will enable researchers to tailor a food security intervention uniquely suited to address the challenges presented within this population.